Focus on equity and sustainability
Join the forefront of design’s evolution—Design for Social Innovation—to help deliver healthy, positive, and just futures.
Design with kaitiakitanga and manaakitanga to respond to the critical issues facing our people and our changing environments through interdisciplinary design. Explore pressing issues like ethical practice, sustainability, equity, disability rights, cultural diversity, and social justice.
You’ll also consider kaupapa-Māori-framed approaches to co-designing systems, services, experiences and products.
What you’ll learn
If you study Design for Social Innovation, you’ll identify and define complex issues that have local and global effects. You’ll then design solutions for these issues using research and design practices to create equitable and sustainable outcomes.
During your study you will:
- explore design theory and practice
- learn to apply human-centred, society-centred, and planet-centred research
- develop a toolkit of innovative design practices
- complete practical studio work
- design products, systems, and services that address life's practical challenges.
Choose your study path
You can study Design for Social Innovation as a major subject in the Bachelor of Design Innovation or the Bachelor of Environment and Society.
Bachelor of Design Innovation (BDI)
If you study a BDI, you’ll take part in lectures, workshops, and group work.
To help you build connections between design and social innovation, you also need to study a second subject (as a minor), either from within the School of Design Innovation or from the wider university.
You might combine Design with subjects like Business, Psychology, Anthropology, Environmental Studies, Politics, or International Relations.
Bachelor of Environment and Society (BEnvSoc)
Major in Design for Social Innovation with a special focus on understanding and addressing environmental issues from a range of viewpoints.
Your core courses give you a broad foundation for understanding the connections between people and their environments.
You’ll learn collaborative and empathetic approaches to design, and your skills will help you design for positive environmental and societal change.
Degree support and advice
We can help you match your interests and career goals with the right course of study.
If you’re a new student, talk to a Future Student Adviser.
If you’re already studying with us, talk to Tītoko—Student Success.
Study options
Find out how you can study Design for Social Innovation at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Resources and expertise
Throughout your study, you’ll have access to workshops and dedicated design resources like:
- woodworking, metalworking, and hand tools
- a specialist photography studio and equipment
- a purpose-built fashion studio with digital and traditional pattern-making resources
- 3D printing digital-fabrication suites, with Stratasys voxel printers and a large-scale BigRep 3D printer
- facilities for recycling plastics into 3D printing filament
- facilities for working with bio-based materials
- a robotic arm
- film-editing suites.
Whatever your level of experience, our specialist technicians help you to get the most out of these resources.
Future careers
Design for Social Innovation graduates use their knowledge and skills in many areas. These include working with:
- design agencies
- government
- social or environmental organisations that work for positive change—large or small, local or global.
More career information
Find out more about careers in Design.
The government careers website, Tahatū, offers more information about jobs, salaries, and current opportunities.
Scholarships
You may be able to get a scholarship to help fund your studies.
We have first-year and school-leaver scholarships available, as well as specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Design
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This scholarship will support a student studying an undergraduate degree in Architecture, Design Innovation, Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Design Technology, Electric & Computer System Engineering, Software Engineering or Cybersecurity Engineering. The scholarship may also be awarded in conjunction with a Trimble Internship.
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This scholarship is for students undertaking or intending to undertake an Honours or Masters degree at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington in areas related to Peace Building or Peace Studies, Trust Building, Conflict Resolution, addressing Historical Injustice, Restorative Justice, Social Cohesion, Community building and promoting cross-cultural understanding, Change Making or Ethical Leadership.
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Studio Pacific Architecture wish to support a student undertaking their first year of study at Wellington Faculty of Architecture and Design.
Scholarships for international students
We are currently offering a NZ$15,000 VUW Undergraduate International Scholarship to all eligible international students enrolling in a Bachelor’s degree.
Your scholarship will be processed automatically when your programme application is accepted, and the amount will be deducted from your tuition fees.
Other scholarships
We also offer specialised scholarships for different groups and subject areas. If nothing fits right now, something may suit you later.
We encourage you to apply. It’s a straightforward process, and it could make a real difference.
Scholarships for Design
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This scholarship is to assist students in the last year of their first Bachelors degree at Victoria University of Wellington. The scholarship fund will be awarded equally between male and female students.
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Applicants must be female, New Zealand or Canadian citizens studying full time at 300 level BSc (Hons) and Master's by Coursework in any area of Science, including Architecture and Design at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.
Postgraduate study
If you get good results in your undergraduate study, you could continue on to study a Master’s or PhD if you want to do independent research.
There are different Master’s options based on your interests. Common pathways include:
Get help to manage your finances
We can help you:
- budget your money
- manage your student loan or allowance
- work out your accommodation payment schedule.
If you're facing financial difficulties, we can help you apply for the Hardship Fund.
You may be eligible for government or community support, too.
Wellington Global Exchange
If you're a current student at Victoria University of Wellington, you can complete part of your degree overseas. Choose from our 140 partner universities worldwide.
Study Abroad and Exchange Programme
If you're an overseas student, you can spend a trimester or a year at Victoria University of Wellington. You'll earn credits at your home university while you study here.